Author: AspiDimitrov

by AspiDimitrov

HERTFORDSHIRE LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL SET TO COMMENCE

The Hertfordshire Baseball Club is about to begin what may prove to be one of the largest youth baseball projects in the United Kingdom. This is being done with the generous support of BaseballSoftballUK (BSUK), the development agency for baseball and softball in the United Kingdom which is funded by Sports England, the agency that delivers the Government's sporting objectives.

Over a period of two weeks in July, nearly 20 training sessions at as many schools around Hertfordshire will take place. It is estimated that this will provide over 1,000 boys and girls the opportunity to play the game of baseball. The sessions will be run by licensed coaches provided by BSUK alongside coaches from the Herts Falcons and the Herts Hawks.

Over the years the Herts Baseball Club has been receiving regular enquiries from parents looking for a club where their children would be able to play baseball. Unfortunately, the club has had to turn them away as there was no youth baseball programme in Hertfordshire. The aim of this long-term project is to ensure that this will never happen again and that the kids in Hertfordshire will have a club where they will be able to play the game and most importantly, to have fun in a structured, well organised ‘team’ environment.

The two weeks of school training sessions will be followed by Summer Baseball Camps every Saturday from 28 July until 1 September.

The summer camps will be held at Grovehill Field, which is one of the UK’s best baseball facilities and home of the Herts Falcons and the Herts Hawks. The Summer Baseball Camps will be open not only to students from the schools visited by the club but also to all kids in and around Hertfordshire County.

All these events will build up to 2008 when plans are in place to start the inaugural season of the Hertfordshire Baseball Little League involving newly established teams from around Hertfordshire.

If you are interested to take part in the Summer Baseball Camps or any of the other events, please contact the Herts Baseball Club for more details and read our Frequently Asked Questions about Herts Little League Baseball, located in the LITTLE LEAGUE section of our webpage. Parents are encouraged to get involved as well and they also have the opportunity to play baseball with our adult teams, the Herts Falcons, Hawks and Raptors (14 years of age or older) affiliated to the Hertfordshire Baseball Club.

by AspiDimitrov

FALCONS DEFENSE AND CLUTCH HITTING SLAYS DRAGONS

[ FALCONS/DRAGONS BOX SCORE: GAME ONE ]
[ FALCONS/DRAGONS BOX SCORE: GAME TWO ]

Sunshine returned to Hertfordshire on Sunday afternoon, and with it came some timely hitting, solid defense, and dogged pitching to propel the Falcons to a 13-2 season record. Richmond's Dragons put up a noble battle in the first game of the double-header, but the see-saw line score tells the story: two two-RBI doubles in the sixth inning put the Falcons on top for good.

The second game was less contentious – the Falcons scored four times in the first inning and never looked back. A six-inning complete game by Nic Götz provided no relief for the Dragons, who scored their ony run on a throwing error by catcher Jason Greenberg. Greenberg repented for his errant throw by gunning down a record five would-be base-stealers (three at 2nd base, two at 3rd).

NOTABLES:

Andy Cornish slugged his third homer of the season, while Bart Snavely (fresh off the DL) knocked his second dinger and went 5-for-8 with 4 RBIs. Starting pitcher Bruce Dullea earned his team-leading sixth win on the season. Götz improved to 3-0 with a 2.81 ERA and recorded eight strike outs over seven innings on the day.

by AspiDimitrov

GRITTY DISPLAY BY HAWKS NOT ENOUGH AGAINST SHARKS

[ HAWKS/SHARKS BOX SCORE: GAME ONE ]
[ HAWKS/SHARKS BOX SCORE: GAME TWO ]

The Hawks are fast gaining the reputation as the gutsy underdogs of Division 1. They were no match for the Premier League promotion hopefuls from Bournemouth, but they did not go down without a fight.

For a second week in a roll visitors to the Herts Baseball Club website will be astonished to find out that the Hertfordshire club has once again managed to overcome the extreme effects of “climate change” while the rest of the country finds itself underwater.

Going into this game, the Hawks’ underdog status was compounded by the fact that the squad was seriously depleted, with some key players like Dave Hamilton, Carlos Casal, Rodney Naghar and Ross Davies being sidelined.

The score line from the two games may suggest that this was a mismatch, which was true in Game 2, but the Hawks did not look out of place in Game 1 versus Bournemouth’s ace pitcher, Ben Moody. He managed to shut down the Hawks’ offence allowing only 2 runs on 2 hits, with a nasty fastball-curveball combination but he met his match in the Hawks ERA leader, Larry Martillo. Sharks bats have been punishing their opponents all season long, but Martillo kept them at bay, pitching 5 good innings until the Sharks put the game out of the Hawks’ reach in the sixth inning.

A lot was expected of Hawks starter, Aspi Dimitrov, in Game 2 but disappointingly he struggled badly and the Sharks took full advantage, winning convincingly.

Despite facing some of the toughest pitchers in the League, Pete Kikel and Kal Dimitrov did not seem to be fazed by this and managed to hit the ball hard, Pete Kikel (4-5, 2RBI), Kal Dimitrov (3-3, 2B, 2RBI). Kal Dimitrov has now jumped above Chantal Gerrard and leads the Herts Hawks in batting average (.583), slugging (.667), on-base % (.615) and RBIs (6).

A disappointing result for the Herts Hawks not only because mathematically this puts them almost out of the Premier League promotion race, but also because they could not help out the other Hertfordshire team, the Herts Falcons, by taking a win out of their direct rivals.

by AspiDimitrov

FEMALE STAR INSPIRES HAWKS TO VICTORY

[ BOX SCORE ]

GAME REPORT (by Dave Hamilton): Chantal Gerrard, playing in only her second league game, was the batting hero(ine) for the Herts Hawks as they completed a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Richmond Riverdogs on Sunday. Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Hawks were facing an agonising defeat after their strongest defensive display of the year. However, Richmond were unable to get the final three outs as Chantal drove in the Hawk's winning run with a single down the third base line.

The Hawks were keen to build on the potential shown in the previous week's grudge match against the Falcons and provided some solid defence to back up a strong pitching performance from the rejuvinated Larry Martillo. However, Richmond pitcher Per Nilsson was also doing a fine job of keeping the Hawks hitters off balance and did not concede a hit in the first five innings as the Riverdogs clung to a 1-0 lead.

Chantal's lead-off single and some aggressive baserunning from player-manager Jake Kikel helped the Hawks draw level in the sixth inning, only for Richmond to edge ahead once more by scoring a run of their own in the seventh.

Embroiled in the pitching duel, both defences kept up the pressure and although a more patient approach at the plate saw the Hawks threaten to score in both the seventh and eighth innings, their hitters couldn't quite find the clutch hit they so desperately needed and runners were left stranded at second and third base to set up the nailbiting finish.

Trailing 2-1, rookie outfielder Jonathan Lewys led off the ninth inning with a walk before being forced out at second base on Larry Martillo's ground ball, and pinch-hitter Paul Auchterlonie (a late replacement for Carlos Casal who had suffered a serious looking leg injury five minutes earlier in the field) then hit a one-out single to right field to put the tying run on third base. Mark Hoffman's ground ball was good enough to tie the scores and set the scene for Chantal Gerrard to drive in the game-winning run with her second hit of the game.

The win lifts the Hawks record for the season to 3 wins and 4 losses, but the loss was tough on the Riverdogs who battled hard in a very tight ballgame. The Hawks now have a week off to work on their hitting before two games with Bournemouth on July 1st. Based on today's performance, they could do worse than learning to hit like a girl!!!

by AspiDimitrov

FIRST-EVER FALCONS-HERTS SHOWDOWN A GRAND CLUB SUCCESS

[ PHOTO GALLERY ]

[ GAME 1 BOX SCORE ]
[ GAME 2 BOX SCORE ]

GAME REPORT (by Ross Davies): The Herts Falcons won the battle of the birds, as they took both games against the newly-christened Herts Hawks in an historic occasion for the club. It was the first game between the two Hemel Hempstead-based sides since the club branched into two teams, and experience told on the day as the Falcons swept the Hawks in the double-header.

The Falcons, playing as hosts, took the initiative early on in the first game, as they raced into an early lead. Bruce Dullea, on the mound, was pitching consistently, and the home side’s bats fired from the off against the Hawks’ Larry Martillo to open up a sizeable deficit. Mark Hoffman came on to stem the flow of runs, but some excellent batting, most notably from Andy Cornish, who finished 3-for-3 with five RBIs, meant a premature ending to the first game as the slaughter rule came into play after five innings.

The Hawks would have been forgiven for letting their heads drop for the second game, but that wasn’t the case as Aspi Dmitrov took to the mound and pitched like a man possessed. Going into the fourth inning the game was tied at three each, and the Hawks were in with a real shout of an upset. However, a combination of poor batting and basic fielding errors cost them dear, and the Falcons capitalised, rattling off seven runs in two innings to put the game to bed.

In truth, the second game gave glimpses of what the Hawks were capable of, and there would have been the odd nervous moment in the home camp when the scores were level. But the efficient batting and faultless fielding proved the difference in the end, in particular from new shortstop Yuji Endo, whose athleticism was enough to lift the team on its own.

by AspiDimitrov

HERTS DERBY – THE TWO MANAGERS – Q&A

Hertfalcons.co.uk managed to get a quick Q&A with the two managers before the weekend clash between the Falcons and the Hawks.

 

Q: Your prediction for the score of the two games?

 

Bruce Dullea A:

We'll win both games, 9-6 & 10-8.

 

Paul Auchterlounie A:

Whilst I hate to make predictions, I think that Falcons will win game 1, with a score of 11-5. Hawks will bounce back and take game 2, 9-6.

 

Q: Key player from your team?

 

Bruce Dullea A:

Yuji has made our infield defense very strong.  He's a key.

 

Paul Auchterlounie A:

I have many players who could be deemed as key players – those in the infield and the outfield, batting 1-9. If I had to pick 1 it would, I think, have to be Larry Martillo. The strong batting lineup of Falcons needs to be quieted, and I feel that Larry has the experience and guile to bewitch them at the plate, provided the ump knows where the strike zone is.

 

Q: Most feared player from the opponents' team?

 

Bruce Dullea A:

We don't fear anyone, but respect all of the Hawks players.  Larry gave us trouble in the Kyle Hunlock Series and is a leader on and off the field for the Hawks. 

 

Paul Auchterlounie A:

Sometimes, stats don't mean ****. However, currently leading the Falcons is one of their Japanese import players, Kimiyoshi Saionji. He can hit to either field, is quick around the bases and pulls off great plays with the glove. Others to watch for are Andy Cornish (who can be a little suspect with fly balls at the fence!) and the left side of the infield – it'll need a very sharply hit ball to get through there.

 

Q: If you could have one MLB player play for your team this weekend who would it be?

 

Bruce Dullea A:

Barry Zito

 

Paul Auchterlounie A:

I was going to go for Ryan Howard, reigning National League MVP. He's on a hot hitting streak right now, can go either way and with the short (by MLB standards) fence the balls will just keep on flying. However, Falcons would probably kill the game and just pitch round him to get to the next batter. So with the intention of quieting the Falcons lineup, I've decided to go for a pitcher – Jake Peavy. 2nd in the majors in ERA and leads the majors in strikeouts he should be a good matchup for the predominantly right handed lineup of the Falcons. He'll set the table nicely for Martillo to come in and finish off!!

 

Q: A short message which you want to give to your opponents.

 

Bruce Dullea A:

(Note: Bruce will come back a little later on this particular point.  He is probably referring to Sun Tzu's “The Art of War” for inspiration)

 

Paul Auchterlounie A:“There are only 5 things that you can do in baseball – run, throw, catch, hit and hit with power. It's a pity the Falcons can't do any of them”. Leo Durocher.  (Ok, so I adlibbed a bit with the quote.)

by AspiDimitrov

PA’L CARAJO

Hertfalcons.co.uk have received a large number of enquiries about the meaning of the video message in Spanish from Hawks slugger, Carlos Casal.  We have managed to make contact with the Venezuelan RBI Machine who took time to clarify this matter.


The expression “Pa’l carajo” is largely used in South America and CaribbeanIslands to express anger (To hell) or surprise (What the hell?) towards something or someone. The contraction (Grammar) Pa’l is a composition of “Para” = To and “El” = The, and “Carajo” can be used, in popular language, as Faraway, Hell or Splendid.Latin American baseball players use this expression when they send or are going to send the ball faraway (Long home run); or to give the opponent a very hard time in the game.

by AspiDimitrov

FIRST EVER HERTFORDSHIRE DERBY IN BRITISH BASEBALL LEAGUE HISTORY

 

Baseball history will be made this week when the Hertfordshire Baseball Club hosts the first ever Herts Baseball derby.  The Herts Falcons will clash against the Herts Hawks at Grovehill Field, Hemel Hempstead. 

 

Both teams have been building up to this game ever since the 2007 League schedule was published.  The Falcons come into the game as the odds-on favourites to win both games.  Over the last few weeks Falcons players have gone on record to say that they will administer an embarrassing beating which the Hawks will remember for years to come.  The war of words escalated to such an extent that the club’s internet Forum has been overloaded with page after page of pre-game exchanges.

 

The Hawks have kept quite in the pre-game build up, probably fearing the worst, but no matter how much the odds are stacked against them, in baseball miracles do happen and a miracle is what the Herts Hawks will need if they are to stand any chance of even staying close to the Falcons.

 

The two teams have met 6 times in the past but only in non-league exhibition games as part of the “Kyle Hunlock” Series last September.  The Falcons won those Series 4-2 and off-the-record they would probably claim that they handed the two wins out of pity for the Hawks and to extend the season by a week or two.

 

The Hertfordshire Baseball Club invites all baseball and non-baseball fans to come along and witness baseball history being made this Sunday and maybe to enjoy a picnic in the pleasant surroundings of our home field.  Game 1 starts at 12:00.  For directions to our field please click here (http://www.hertsfalcons.co.uk/field ).

 

by AspiDimitrov

“HERTS DERBY WEEK” SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Wednesday, 6 June, 6:00pm, Wednesday Night Practice – last preparations before the big game.  This and future Wednesday Night sessions are open to non-members who may be interested in joining the club or to give baseball a go.

 

Friday, 8 June, 6:30pm, Slugfest Night – all members of the Herts Baseball Club will have a night at the Northwick Park Batting Cages (Free of Charge) with food and drinks. Directions:http://www.northwickpark.com/directions.html

 

Sunday, 10 June, Judgement Day – Herts Hawks @ Herts Falcons

10:00am, Herts Falcons Pre-Game Batting Practice

10:45am, Herts Hawks Pre-Game Batting Practice

11:30am, Photocall: 2007 Team photos

11:40am, Herts Falcons Pre-Game Infield/Outfield Practice

11:50am, Herts Hawks Pre-Game Infield/Outfield Practice

12:00pm, Ceremonial First Pitch – thrown out by family members present.

12:05pm, GAME 1

~2:30pm, GAME 2

~5:00pm, Post Game Celebrations (To be confirmed) – possible options drinks with barbecue and/or pizza delivery etc, and/or a softball game involving friends and family members